Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(77)

Daniel’s hands tightened on me. “That’s why they call it a public presentation, baby. This is why I couldn’t take you to Paris. I could never do this to you. Please forgive me.”

There had been so many other reasons and I knew he was grasping at straws because we had already been married at the time. There would have been no need for a public presentation, but my heart softened toward him anyway. He always had me in mind. He always wanted to protect me. He simply didn’t understand that if he kept me in a protective cage, our marriage could never work.

Before I had a chance to say anything to him, a loud roar filled the air. The crowd moved as Paul vented his fury. I tried to see, but I was far too short. The vampires around me started to shift as though giving Paul space. I caught the action in small glimpses even as Daniel moved in front of me.

Paul’s face went savage, his fangs gleaming in the spotlight.

A shout went up as I saw a spray of blood. Paul struck out at anyone left around him, claws sinking into flesh.

He leapt onto the stage, reaching out, and in a single move, he picked up Adam and tossed him back into the crowd. A low growl reverberated through the air as he began to stalk Meredith.

Sebastian had moved to the front of the stage, his hand over his brow as he fought the bright lights to look into the crowd. There was no doubt in my mind who he wanted to see.

“Marcus?” Daniel didn’t move, simply asked the question.

“You have the Council’s permission.” Marcus shook his head, watching the situation like a father disappointed with his unruly toddlers.

“Zoey, I’ll need that sword now.” Daniel leapt onto one of the tables, giving himself a better view of the room.

I lifted my skirt slightly and unsnapped the sheath. The sword fell into my hand and, in one motion, I pulled it out and tossed it up to my husband. Daniel caught it without ever taking his eyes off his prey. The minute the sword was in his gloved hands, he pushed off the table.

To my eyes it looked like he was running above the crowd. He leapt from tabletop to tabletop, landing only briefly on one leg to push off again as he avoided the crowd and moved toward the stage.

Everything stopped as Daniel danced his way toward his target. He pushed off the final table, and the sword sang through the air, moving like an extension of Daniel’s arm. He wielded the weapon with flawless precision. He seemed to hang in the air for a moment. No one breathed or moved a muscle, even Daniel’s victim, who seemed to be a deer caught in the headlights.

With no hesitation, he brought the sword down on Paul’s neck, neatly separating his head from his body. The other vampire had no chance to run, no chance to fight. The moment Daniel had decided to kill him, his long life had been over.

I caught my breath because while it had been brutal, there was a beautiful grace to it.

“He is magnificent,” Marcus swore. “I have lived almost two thousand years and not seen his like.”

Daniel landed in a crouch but was up quickly enough to catch the head before it hit the floor. He tossed it at Adam, who had managed to get back up on the stage. “You are satisfied with the judgment of the Council?”

Adam was shaking as he held the head of his rival. He took a step back but managed to agree that he was, indeed, satisfied. Even as he held it, the head turned to ash in his hands, covering the stage with dust.

“The Council is satisfied with their Nex Apparatus?” The words sounded deeply formal coming out of Daniel’s mouth, holding the weight of long years of custom.

“As always, Mr. Donovan,” Niko said, speaking for the Council.

Daniel surveyed the crowd, his sword still in hand. “If the Council is satisfied, then I beg permission to take my companion and quit these proceedings.” Daniel looked at the men in the crowd. “I assume the rest of you will behave.”

I could practically hear the collective gulp go through the room.

“You have leave, Mr. Donovan,” Niko offered. “Take the rest of the evening off. Enjoy your companion.”

Daniel leapt from the stage and was given a very wide berth by the vampires on the floor. They moved away from him as though his very touch could bring them death. Daniel walked to me and tossed the sword my way. I caught it and placed it back in its sheath. At that moment, all eyes were on me, and I saw the minute they started to think of me as something more than Daniel’s plaything.

“She’s seen enough,” Daniel said to Marcus as he picked me up and started to carry me out of the club.

As we left, I watched over Daniel’s shoulder as Adam pulled his new purchase into his arms and bit down for that first taste.





When we arrived in the room ten minutes later, Daniel sank onto the couch, and I fell down beside him. We didn’t speak, just let the events of the evening sink in. We sat there in the cool quiet of the suite for the longest time with that strange sword between us. We watched the lights of the strip as the clock turned ever closer to morning. Finally the door to the suite opened, and Dev walked in. His clothes were wrinkled, and he smelled like cigarettes and vodka.

“You two look like I feel,” he muttered as he sank down beside me. I have to admit, I liked the fact that I was between them. I could almost pretend it was normal. “Nice sword. What the hell happened to you, Daniel? You have blood on your coat.”

“Execution,” Daniel answered.